Neil Armstrong Scholarship - 2006 Winners

COPA Neil Armstrong Scholarship - AB-INITIO ($7,000)

Hasmik Petrosian, 19, of Scarborough, Ontario.

Miss Petrosian joined the Royal Canadian Air Cadets in 2002 with the hope of earning her glider and power license. This ambitious pursuit was tempered by her desire to assist with the financial burden in her single parent household, along with maintaining her high academic standings and volunteer commitments.

As such, she ultimately made the hard decision to leave the Air Cadets having only accumulated less than one hour of glider instruction.

Miss Petrosian is an active and dedicated volunteer having shown leadership in numerous community activities such as President of Empowered Student Partnerships, Chair of SPAAID and involvement with Street Kids International.

Academically, she is pursuing a Life Sciences program switching from a business degree at a North American University.

The desire to realize her goal of a Pilot’s license is still strong and it is a pleasure on behalf of the Neil Armstrong Scholarship Selection Committee to award Miss Hasmik Petrosian as the ab-initio scholarship winner for 2006.

COPA Neil Armstrong Scholarship ($3,000)

Gregory M Blocka, 18, of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Mr. Blocka is the youngest in a farming family of four children from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. He has completed his Private Pilot’s license and is currently attending Commercial Pilot ground school in the partnership program between the Saskatchewan Aviation Council and the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technologies. Having chosen to make a career out of flying, Mr. Blocka has accumulated a total of 60 hours at time of application.

COPA Neil Armstrong Scholarship ($2,000)

Natalie Cloutier, 18, of Lac La Biche, Alberta.

Miss Cloutier looks to pursue a career in rural medicine with the intention of joining “Doctors Without Borders” to provide medical assistance to developing nations. She is attending J.A. Williams High School in Lac La Biche, Alberta where she also serves as Student Union President. She is currently enrolled in Weber Aviation’s Private Pilot program with 7 hours of flying time.

“Thank you so very much for the honor of second runner up $2000 scholarship for flight training,” Cloutier said. “It is so exciting to find out that my hard work and my lifestyle choices have paid off. I find it to be a huge honor to have been chosen amongst such a strong field of applications. These funds will definitely be put to good use in my flight training.

“Thank you again for both the scholarship and your assistance. You guys rock!”